Erin Patton-McFarren creates experimental cyanotypes, working with simple non-toxic elements
in nature from her studio in Fort Wayne, Indiana and travels near water.
The work created is immediate, capturing the ever changing sunlight as it interacts with water and wind.
Currents in the river, lakes and water create their own expression of shape in the natural light.
The immediacy of printing in the sun and changing light contrasts the calm of sitting along the river.
The interplay of elements in nature create a spontaneous moment on paper, gently marking time and place.
What begins as simple form of photography becomes the ephemeral in print.
in nature from her studio in Fort Wayne, Indiana and travels near water.
The work created is immediate, capturing the ever changing sunlight as it interacts with water and wind.
Currents in the river, lakes and water create their own expression of shape in the natural light.
The immediacy of printing in the sun and changing light contrasts the calm of sitting along the river.
The interplay of elements in nature create a spontaneous moment on paper, gently marking time and place.
What begins as simple form of photography becomes the ephemeral in print.
Welcome to the journey!
Process & Environmental Videos
Etsy Store Lumina Blu
Featured Artist Red Dot Culture and Goldfinch Gallery, Chicago
C/V
Fellowship
Lilly Endowment Fellowship, Brazil 2024
Permanent Collections & Collaborations
Loews Miami Beach Resort Collaboration with Locol Arts 2025
To be announced.... with Johalla Projects, Chicago 2026
Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Contemporary Photography Collection 2023
Three Rivers Federal Credit Union 2019
Solo Exhibitions
"Um Passo a Frente" Solo exhibit at Aurora Photo Center, Indianapolis September 2025
Lilly Fellowship Brazil Exhibit with Andrea Jones "Um Passo a Frente" at Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery, April 2025
Honeywell Clark Gallery, solo exhibition of “Natural Histories” Nov-Dec 2022
“Natural Histories” Solo Exhibition, ARTLINK Contemporary Gallery, Ft. Wayne, IN, May 2022
Marcia Evans Gallery, Columbus Ohio, September 2022
Juried & Invitational Exhibitions
"IN the Abstract" Abstract Artists of Indiana, Indiana State Museum Indianapolis, March 2024
Lake Michigan Collection, Crestwood Gallery, July 2023
“Art of Water” James May Gallery, Milwaukee WI, May 2023
“Transient Bodies” Roaring Artist Gallery, April 2023
”A Flatfiles Show” Goldfinch Gallery, Chicago March - April 2023
CHANGES, Artist/Mother Exhibition at Conjure, May 2023
Album Art Collaboration with Sankofa, May 2023
Collaboration with The FIND North in Leland Michigan, July 2023
Previous
Bread & Circus Gallery, “Year of the Tiger” Nov 2022
ARTLINK BASH fundraiser, October 2022
“Water Connects Us” Group Exhibition 2022
ARTLINK Members Showcase, 2022
University of Saint Francis, Alumni Exhibit, December 2021
ARTLINK Member’s Showcase and ARTLINK Solo ExhibitIon Award Winner 2021
“Photography and Process” Exhibition at DragonFLY Gallery, Chicago March 2021
Solo Exhibit of “Confluence” Series at Conjure Coffee, March 2021
“Second Chances” Blue Jacket, Inc. at the University of Saint Francis 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
“Encores: 40 Years of Artlink” 2018
"Wanderings" Joint Exhibition with Jeremy McFarren, First Presbyterian January 2018
"Where Shall We Now Roam" Artlink 2017
Publications & Podcasts
Journal Gazette
PBS Arts in Focus Season 13 Episode 12
WANE TV Feature Abstract In Northeastern Indiana
Fort Wayne Magazine "Revive"
Artist/Mother Podcast 2022
ArtsUndone Podcast 2022
Glo Magazine Dec 2021
University of Saint Francis Alumni Magazine, Fall 2021
@todaysalternative Featured Artist,August 2021
Fort Wayne Magazine July, 2021
Tied to Light Collective Featured Artist, 2021
Aeonian Magazine Issue No. 2, 2020
World Cyanotype Day 2020, 2021
Grants
Eli Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship 2024
Arts United Community Connections Grant for Southeast Fort Wayne 2023
Authored Publications
Early Childhood Art, Visionary Art Collective
Masterpieces in the Hallways
Residency
The Studio Source 2022
ARIM Artist Residency in Motherhood 2022
Workshops
Aurora Photo Center Cyanotype on Fabric and Wet Cyano with Pigments 2025
The Lilly Center for Rivers and Streams, July 2025
ARTLINK Double Exposure, 2025
ARTLINK Wet Cyanotype with Pigments, 2024
Aurora Photo Center Cyanotype Fabric, 2024
ARTLINK Cyanotype Fabric, 2024
ARTLINK Cyanotype, 2023
ARTLINK “Natural Histories” Exhibition Cyanotype 2022
ACRES Land Trust, Cyanotype Presentation & Wokshop 2020, 2022
Science Central STEAM Event, 2020
Commissions
Erin is currently taking commissions. She creates custom pieces for clients and site-specific works.
Please contact her directly for commission or commercial inquiries.
Education
BA Visual Arts Education & Fine Arts, Sculpture, University of Saint Francis, IN 1999
MLS Media Studies & Arts Reference, Indiana University, IN 2005
Process & Environmental Videos
Etsy Store Lumina Blu
Featured Artist Red Dot Culture and Goldfinch Gallery, Chicago
C/V
Fellowship
Lilly Endowment Fellowship, Brazil 2024
Permanent Collections & Collaborations
Loews Miami Beach Resort Collaboration with Locol Arts 2025
To be announced.... with Johalla Projects, Chicago 2026
Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Contemporary Photography Collection 2023
Three Rivers Federal Credit Union 2019
Solo Exhibitions
"Um Passo a Frente" Solo exhibit at Aurora Photo Center, Indianapolis September 2025
Lilly Fellowship Brazil Exhibit with Andrea Jones "Um Passo a Frente" at Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery, April 2025
Honeywell Clark Gallery, solo exhibition of “Natural Histories” Nov-Dec 2022
“Natural Histories” Solo Exhibition, ARTLINK Contemporary Gallery, Ft. Wayne, IN, May 2022
Marcia Evans Gallery, Columbus Ohio, September 2022
Juried & Invitational Exhibitions
"IN the Abstract" Abstract Artists of Indiana, Indiana State Museum Indianapolis, March 2024
Lake Michigan Collection, Crestwood Gallery, July 2023
“Art of Water” James May Gallery, Milwaukee WI, May 2023
“Transient Bodies” Roaring Artist Gallery, April 2023
”A Flatfiles Show” Goldfinch Gallery, Chicago March - April 2023
CHANGES, Artist/Mother Exhibition at Conjure, May 2023
Album Art Collaboration with Sankofa, May 2023
Collaboration with The FIND North in Leland Michigan, July 2023
Previous
Bread & Circus Gallery, “Year of the Tiger” Nov 2022
ARTLINK BASH fundraiser, October 2022
“Water Connects Us” Group Exhibition 2022
ARTLINK Members Showcase, 2022
University of Saint Francis, Alumni Exhibit, December 2021
ARTLINK Member’s Showcase and ARTLINK Solo ExhibitIon Award Winner 2021
“Photography and Process” Exhibition at DragonFLY Gallery, Chicago March 2021
Solo Exhibit of “Confluence” Series at Conjure Coffee, March 2021
“Second Chances” Blue Jacket, Inc. at the University of Saint Francis 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
“Encores: 40 Years of Artlink” 2018
"Wanderings" Joint Exhibition with Jeremy McFarren, First Presbyterian January 2018
"Where Shall We Now Roam" Artlink 2017
Publications & Podcasts
Journal Gazette
PBS Arts in Focus Season 13 Episode 12
WANE TV Feature Abstract In Northeastern Indiana
Fort Wayne Magazine "Revive"
Artist/Mother Podcast 2022
ArtsUndone Podcast 2022
Glo Magazine Dec 2021
University of Saint Francis Alumni Magazine, Fall 2021
@todaysalternative Featured Artist,August 2021
Fort Wayne Magazine July, 2021
Tied to Light Collective Featured Artist, 2021
Aeonian Magazine Issue No. 2, 2020
World Cyanotype Day 2020, 2021
Grants
Eli Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship 2024
Arts United Community Connections Grant for Southeast Fort Wayne 2023
Authored Publications
Early Childhood Art, Visionary Art Collective
Masterpieces in the Hallways
Residency
The Studio Source 2022
ARIM Artist Residency in Motherhood 2022
Workshops
Aurora Photo Center Cyanotype on Fabric and Wet Cyano with Pigments 2025
The Lilly Center for Rivers and Streams, July 2025
ARTLINK Double Exposure, 2025
ARTLINK Wet Cyanotype with Pigments, 2024
Aurora Photo Center Cyanotype Fabric, 2024
ARTLINK Cyanotype Fabric, 2024
ARTLINK Cyanotype, 2023
ARTLINK “Natural Histories” Exhibition Cyanotype 2022
ACRES Land Trust, Cyanotype Presentation & Wokshop 2020, 2022
Science Central STEAM Event, 2020
Commissions
Erin is currently taking commissions. She creates custom pieces for clients and site-specific works.
Please contact her directly for commission or commercial inquiries.
Education
BA Visual Arts Education & Fine Arts, Sculpture, University of Saint Francis, IN 1999
MLS Media Studies & Arts Reference, Indiana University, IN 2005
